I was really pleased to see that we had so many knitters attend the meeting. I really enjoyed Charisa's presentation on how to take good photos. Two things that really stood out for me was:

1. get it off the bed/table-great advice, I'm looking forward to playing around with that idea and
   
2. use your camera to capture colors in nature for inspiration on choosing color schemes for knitting projects~ what a novel idea! :) 
   

    I really liked Melissa's [Knit New(s)] presentation. She did an awesome job and her visuals were beautiful~ I felt really nostalgic, my mom used to make beautiful granny afghans, the ones that Melissa showcased were lovely. I also really related to what Melissa said, during her presentation, about always choosing black/browns or neutral colors for garments... I do the same, I don't feel confident picking colors a lot of times, and having some inspiration from nature or a photographic source would be great.
    
    I liked that we all got to vote on a bag for the Seattle to Portland Yarn Train, and I'm excited that I'm going to be able to attend this year. It will be my first time on this trip and only my second time on a train.

    I think this is going to be a great year for the guild, and it's great to be able to connect with so many creative people.

     ~Lois, SKG Secretary, 2011-2012

Rather than a specific technique, my tip this month is to pick up a specific reference book, out of print but readily available at used bookstores.  It is the Reader’s Digest Complete Guide to Needlework. It first came out in the late 1970’s and then was revised in the 1980’s.  Since then there have been other knitting specific reference books published, but none compare to this. 
  
It has chapters on crochet, tatting, quilting, and more.  But even if you only use it for the knitting, it is worth it.  It doesn’t have some of the more recent techniques like Mobius or i-cord.  But it has the clearest photographs and illustrations.  And what it does have that other books don’t, is discussion of when and why one technique might be better than another in any given situation.  For example, many basic knitting books give instructions for several different cast on’s. But the Reader’s Digest Complete Guide to Needlework not only shows them more clearly, it specifies which is more elastic, which is better to use when firmness is needed, etc.  
 
Have you cringed when you saw the words “provisional cast on” in a pattern?  No problem if you have this book on your shelf.  One online reviewer I saw recently stated that she had long ago sold or given away her copy, only to re-buy it later because it is so indispensable.  Of course you can try amazon.com.  But I would like to suggest your local used bookstores as well as two sites that list the stock of used booksellers across the country, abebooks.com and alibris.com.  I have also had great luck with knitting books from powells.com. 

 - Aleen Caplan Yamasaki
If you have a question or suggestion for Tips & Tricks, please email Aleen.

Worldwide Knit in Public Day: Seattle International Fountain (or the Center House if it's rainy) -- 11am to 3pm, 18 June 2011. Tell all your knitting friends!  Let's show the public the many faces of knitters. Click on the Events section for more details.

The results of the poll for the Worldwide location meetup are in -- it was close! We'll be meeting up for our knit out at Seattle Center/International Fountain if it is sunny, and in the Seattle Center House, if it is rainy.

Snohomish folks - we'll pull together carpools - please spread the word with your knitting friends to meet up for a knit out.